The Meeting of Two Players

Seo Eun-woo, speaking with a beaming face, was different from the “Seo Eun-woo” in I-seo’s memory. His glowing, fair skin and rosy cheeks seemed to prove that he was in excellent health. In the in-game novel, Seo Eun-woo was sickly, a trait accompanied by a pale complexion and a high-strung, sensitive personality.

The fact that Seo Eun-woo was healthy was good news. However, something was wrong. This meant things weren’t proceeding according to the original game, Sickly Villain, or the in-game novel, My Beloved Beta. At this point in time, the engagement between the two should have been maintained above all else.

They didn’t seem to be on bad terms, yet there was no trace of the heavy, intimate tension typical of lovers. If Ethan were as obsessed with Seo Eun-woo as he was in the original game, he wouldn’t have explained to the staff that they had an appointment; he would have wrapped an arm around Eun-woo’s waist and swept him inside the office.

What on earth is going on?

A deep furrow appeared between I-seo’s brows. Even so, the movement of his fingers at work didn’t slow down for a second. If he dawdled even a little, there was no telling what time he’d finish today.

I-seo glanced at the calendar. It was April. After scanning the numbers on the desk calendar, his eyes returned to the monitor. He always felt restless around this time of year. He just wanted to go home and lie down early today. It was that kind of day.

Whether his wish was granted or if the heavens were giving a gift to the hardworking I-seo, he managed to leave the office an hour earlier than usual. An early clock-out enriched the soul, making even the sound of his own footsteps echoing in the silent, empty building sound like beautiful music.

Leaving just one hour early meant he could stop by the nearby sandwich shop, which he usually only saw with its doors firmly shut. He returned home with a BMT sandwich and a cup of hot soup, sitting on his sofa to fill his stomach first. He had hesitated before adding the three-dollar soup, but he would have been miserable if he hadn’t bought it.

He had wanted something warm today. Today, of all days.

As he lay down in his cold bed, he thought of the Seo Eun-woo he had met for the first time today. He couldn’t figure out how any of this had happened. Still, it was a good impression. I-seo recalled the version of Seo Eun-woo he saw today. It would be nice if we could become friends.

That had been a mere month ago.

Since then, Seo Eun-woo had shown his face at the company about twice more. I-seo assumed he had come to see Ethan again today, but Eun-woo suddenly approached I-seo instead. While I-seo stood dazed and unable to answer, Eun-woo said he only needed five minutes and led him toward the emergency staircase where no one would come.

And then, he said it:

‘I’m an Engaged Player, too.’

Seo Eun-woo waved his hand back and forth in front of I-seo, who was struggling to react.

“Wait, just a moment… what?”

“Is there a rule saying only one person can realize this world is exactly like a game? I wanted to be friends with a fellow Engaged Player.”

Seo Eun-woo joked lightheartedly.

“I confirmed that someone named Yeon I-seo joined Ethan’s secretarial team as the original story progressed, but something felt off. Things weren’t moving the way I knew they should. So, just in case, I came today to verify… and I was right.”

I-seo, who had been blinking helplessly, finally regained his senses.

“N-no. Doing this will twist the original plot.”

“Didn’t the original plot start twisting the moment you realized this was a game, I-seo?”

Eun-woo’s point was so valid that I-seo fell silent. He was absolutely right. I-seo wanted to ask more, but he had been away from his desk for too long. They would start looking for him soon.

Even so, I-seo lingered, wanting to talk to Seo Eun-woo more, before finally speaking up.

“I’ll give you my contact information.”

When I-seo spoke first, Seo Eun-woo understood the underlying intent of the offer and nodded with a smile. After receiving I-seo’s business card, Eun-woo took out his own.

“Great. This is my number. It’s a direct line, so you’ll reach me immediately without going through a secretary.”

Seo Eun-woo’s secretary. That was a person who didn’t exist in the original work I-seo knew. He stared at the word “Lawyer” printed on Seo Eun-woo’s business card. The original story really has been twisted a lot. I-seo needed some time to reflect on all the effort he had put in just to follow the original script.

“But I like that the original story is being twisted. I worked incredibly hard to make that happen, after all.”

“Pardon?”

At the casual tone in Seo Eun-woo’s voice, I-seo’s eyes widened reflexively.

“Hurry back now. You’re going to get an earful for being away from your seat.”

Pushed back to his desk just as he had been pulled away, it took I-seo several hours to process what had happened to him. But thinking about it differently, maybe this was a good thing. He admitted to himself that a dormant desire to find someone he could talk to about these things had existed all along.

Besides, hadn’t Seo Eun-woo approached him first? He even said he wanted to twist the original story. The only reason I-seo had tried not to deviate from the original was to build a network. If he could maintain a friendly relationship with Seo Eun-woo, wouldn’t that be enough? I-seo looked down at the business card in his hand.

Since things had turned out this way, it was only right to move according to the situation. Setting his mind, I-seo took a deep breath, vowing to quickly knock out the tasks assigned to him.

It didn’t take long for the two to meet again. Late one Saturday morning following the meeting on the emergency stairs, Seo Eun-woo reached out to I-seo. His plan to sleep in was thwarted, but since it was a moment he had been waiting for, I-seo prepared quickly and went to the meeting spot.

The location was a luxury cafe so high-end that he wouldn’t have dared to enter under normal circumstances. Seo Eun-woo, who had secured a prime window seat, waved when he saw I-seo.

As I-seo sat down, a server brought out coffee and sandwiches. Eun-woo explained that he had ordered in advance.

“I asked them to bring it out when the friend I was waiting for arrived, so they made it the moment they saw you sit down.”

“Thank you.”

The server smiled at Seo Eun-woo. I-seo wondered if the service was always this personal, but it seemed to be because of Eun-woo’s special request. It appeared the staff were happy to be kind because he had moved their hearts, not just because of money.

I-seo felt it, too. Seo Eun-woo had a magnetic charm. It wasn’t just the allure of being a Dominant Omega. He was so beautiful that eyes naturally drifted toward him, and when combined with his relaxed attitude, it would almost seem strange if someone didn’t find him charming. Even I-seo found himself staring blankly at Eun-woo whenever his concentration wavered.

“I felt bad for calling you out so early, so I bought these together. The sandwiches here are quite famous; please try one.”

“Ah, thank you. You should eat too, Eun-woo.”

“I had breakfast before I came out. A cookie is enough for me.”

Seo Eun-woo spoke with a bright smile and sipped his latte, his words appearing genuine. When I-seo’s stomach gave a quiet growl, he found it hard to decline further and began eating a sandwich.

Inside the warmly toasted brioche bread, fresh lettuce, crunchy pickles, and a savory chicken patty blended perfectly with gribiche sauce. It was so delicious that he felt a pang of regret with every bite as it disappeared.

“This is really delicious.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste. Take your time with the rest.”

Seo Eun-woo waited until I-seo had finished. Only after I-seo finished his meal and took a sip of coffee did Eun-woo lean forward to speak.

“Seeing the I-seo I only ever imagined actually eating in front of me… it’s finally starting to feel real.”

Though it was a casual remark, I-seo understood exactly what he meant. It was identical to what he felt while looking at Seo Eun-woo.

“You know, I recognized you from the very first time I went to the office. What about you? I’d only ever seen illustrations, but you look exactly like your image!”

“Ah, same for me. Though I feel like the current you is much better, I’d say you fit the image I had in mind perfectly.”

“It really is mysterious how that works.”

It was exactly as Seo Eun-woo said. The game had never featured live-action versions. Their only exposure to the characters had been through illustrations. Yet, seeing Seo Eun-woo or Ethan, they fit those images so perfectly that it was jaw-dropping.

“The reason I asked to meet today is, first of all, I wanted to become friends with you, I-seo.”

“…Ah.”

“You aren’t scared of me just because I’m the villain of My Beloved Beta, are you? Like I said, the person inside is completely different.”

Seo Eun-woo teased. He was certainly nothing like the Seo Eun-woo I-seo knew. He wasn’t irritable or timid, nor did he seem cynical or like a detached observer. His cheerful and pleasant attitude was more than enough to win anyone over.